Credit Cards
A real card while you build credit
Put down a refundable deposit starting at $300 and get a Visa that reports to all three bureaus every month. Handle it well and it graduates to an unsecured card with your deposit returned.
How it is different from a prepaid card
A prepaid card spends your money and tells nobody. This is a credit account with a safety net.
Your deposit is yours
It sits in a Summit share account earning dividends and is returned in full when the card graduates or closes with a zero balance.
Reported to all three bureaus
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion receive your payment history every month, which is the only way a thin file becomes a real one.
Graduates to unsecured
We review the account at month 12. Twelve on-time payments and steady use typically mean an unsecured card and your deposit back.
Deposits, limits, and terms
Your credit line equals your deposit, so you decide how much room you want.
Rates current as of July 2026 and subject to change. Membership eligibility required. This is a demonstration website; rates, products, and figures shown are illustrative only.
From deposit to unsecured
The path is deliberately boring. Boring is what builds a credit file.
Choose your deposit
Anywhere from $300 to $5,000. Most members start at $500, which leaves enough room to keep utilization low on ordinary spending.
Use it lightly and regularly
Put one recurring bill on the card and leave it there. Keeping the reported balance under 30% of your line does most of the work.
Pay in full, on time, every month
Payment history is the largest single input to your score. Set up autopay for the statement balance and stop thinking about it.
Graduate and get the deposit back
At month 12 we review the account automatically. On approval the card converts to unsecured, keeps its history, and your deposit is released.
Common questions
Is my deposit used to pay the bill each month?
No. It is collateral, held separately and untouched while the account is in good standing. You pay your statement the same way you would on any credit card.
Can I be turned down?
Approval is much broader than on our unsecured cards because the deposit covers the risk, but it is not automatic. Recent charge-offs or an unpaid balance at Summit can still stand in the way.
How fast will my score move?
Most members with a thin file see a meaningful change within six months of on-time payments. Rebuilding after a serious delinquency takes longer, because the old record has to age.
What happens if I stop paying?
The account is reported delinquent like any other, and after 120 days we apply the deposit to the balance and close the card. That is precisely the outcome the card exists to help you avoid.
Can I increase my limit later?
Yes. Add to your deposit in $100 increments at any branch or in the app, and the credit line rises to match within one business day.
Does the card look different at checkout?
It does not. It is a standard Summit Visa accepted everywhere, and merchants have no way to tell it is secured.
Start with $300 and a year
Open the account online, or sit down with a member advisor who will walk through the whole path with you.